Tributes are pouring in for former Yothu Yindi frontman Dr M. Yunupingu, who died this week aged 56. Here is a look back at his achievements.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
* The first indigenous Australian from Arnhem Land to achieve a university degree
* Formed Yothu Yindi in 1986, combining Aboriginal (Yolngu) and non-Aboriginal (balanda) musicians and instrumentation
* Became Australia's first Aboriginal principal when appointed head of Yirrkala Community School in 1990
* Established Yothu Yindi Foundation in 1990 to promote Yolngu cultural development, including Garma Festival of Traditional Cultures
* Wrote the song Treaty with Paul Kelly and his Yothu Yindi band mates Stuart Kellaway, Cal Williams, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, Milkayngu Mununggurr and Witiyana Marika
* Named 1992 Australian of the Year for building bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities
* Yothu Yindi won eight ARIA awards, including 1992 Song of the Year for Treaty, and a Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission songwriting award
* Band toured the US and Canada as support act for Midnight Oil and released six albums: Homeland Movement (1988); Tribal Voice (1991); Freedom (1993); Birrkuta - Wild honey (1996); One Blood (1998); and Garma (2000)
* In 2001, Treaty makes Australasian Performing Right Association's Top 30 Australian songs of all time
* Yothu Yindi inducted into ARIA Hall Of Fame in 2012 and performed at the ceremony with Peter Garrett, Paul Kelly, Dan Sultan and Jessica Mauboy
* Dr M. Yunupingu dies aged 56 at his home in Yirrkala, NT, after battling renal disease.
UPDATE: June 5 -The family of Dr M. Yunupingu says they are now comfortable with his image being published.
